Interior - What the Auto Press Says
The 2011 Ford Edge edges out the competition with its exceptionally roomy cabin and comfortable, kid-friendly rear seats. The refreshed Edge provides even higher quality materials and a newly optional infotainment system with touch controls.
* "The Edge's new interior is perhaps even more attractive than the sheetmetal. A sleek new center stack steals the show, housing Ford's new MyFord and MyFord Touch vehicle-interface systems. These two are the next evolution of Ford's Sync." --Car and Driver
* "Inside, the 2011 Ford Edge gets an all-new interior with classier styling, better-quality materials and more soundproofing for a quieter ride." --Edmunds
* "Some of the cabin materials in the previous Edge, like the dashboard, were a little crude for the class, but it's clear Ford has taken steps to improve the appearance of the 2011 model's interior." --Cars.com
* "As Ford did with the Fusion and Mustang, the Edge's new interior represents a huge upgrade. Previous (2007-2010) Edge instrument panels had a piecemeal approach to panels and materials. There were cut lines everywhere and the graining didn't always match or feel substantial." --Autoblog
Seating
The Edge seats five and most reviewers say it’s family-friendly and comfortable. Though the Edge doesn't offer a third-row seat, this leaves plenty of room for the second row, which is very spacious for a midsize SUV. It even reclines, which is a nice thing to have and something that not all SUVs offer.
Cloth seats are standard on most models, while the Sport and Limited get leather-trimmed seats. Base models have manually-adjustable seats, but trading up to the SEL gets you a six-way power driver’s seat. Heated front seats are standard on Limited and Sport models and optional on SEL models.
* "The rear bench is supportive and offers generous legroom, knee clearance, and foot space. The Vista Roof extends over the rear seat, but only the very tall may find headroom lacking. A reclining seatback is standard and adds to passenger comfort. Entry and exit are no-hassle affairs." -- Consumer Guide
* "It's easy to get in and out, the front seats are comfortable, and the back seats are decent (plus they recline!)." -- About.com
* "The rear seats offer a decent amount of leg room; in fact, there's two inches more here than you'll find in the larger Explorer. Headroom is also reasonable in the rear, even with the optional Vista Roof. The rear-center passenger even gets more room than normal in a vehicle of this size, thanks to the wide track." -- New Car Test Drive
Interior Features
The interior of the Ford Edge has never screamed luxury, but for 2011 it’s getting a little closer. Reviewers love the 2011 Edge’s upgraded materials, and they’re absolutely buzzing about the new available MyFord Touch system, which controls many of the car’s functions.
MyFord Touch is standard on Limited and Sport models and optional on SEL models -- but isn’t available on the base SE. The system combines two five-way switch pads on the steering wheel with three LCD displays -- two in the instrument cluster, and one in the center stack. The controls are similar to a mobile phone interface. Touch-sensitive pads replace many of the traditional buttons. Base models come with MyFord, which is similar but comes with fewer LCD displays and no touch functionality. Reviewers have yet to test either system, but are excited about the new technology.
Standard features on the SE base model continue to be rather sparse and include a manual tilt and telescoping steering wheel, an audio input jack, and a single-disc CD/MP3 player. Upgrading to the SEL model costs a few thousand dollars but may be well worth it -- that model adds dual-zone electronic temperature control, Sirius satellite radio, a six-way power driver’s seat, and an EasyFold second-row seat back release. It also offers many more options -- such as a power liftgate, heated front seats, a dual-headrest DVD entertainment system, Ford’s SYNC infotainment system, and a navigation system -- that aren’t even available for the base model.
* "[B]elow the MyFord interface are capacitive-touch controls for audio and climate, and those opting for the upgraded Sony stereo are treated to a Sony-designed audio interface. Though the system does look cool, we see frustrations growing from audio controls that will not react to thickly gloved fingers." --Car and Driver
* "The 2011 interior features a one-piece dash cap that improves fit and finish considerably. The overall design is cleaner and more modern. The main eight-inch MyFord Touch screen also looked well integrated into the overall design."--Autoblog
* "[R]eviewers reserved their most flattering comments for the Edge's new interior, which most feel is a vast improvement over the previous year's model. The new MyFord Touch system in particular draws very good comments from reviewers." --Car Gurus
Cargo
The 2011 Ford Edge provides 32.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row and 68.9 cubic feet with that row folded down. That space is about the same as what the 2010 model offers, and it’s still average for the class.
By contrast, the Mazda CX-7, which starts at a whopping $6,000 less than the Edge, provides less -- 29.9 cubic feet of space, which can be expanded to 58.6 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down. On the other hand, a slightly larger three-row SUV like the Toyota Highlander provides more space -- 10.3 cubic feet behind its third row, 42.3 cubic feet with that row folded down and 95.4 cubic feet with both the second and third rows folded down.
A plus for the Edge is that all its seats fold almost completely flat. Even the front passenger seat in Limited and Sport models can fold completely flat to hold cargo up to eight feet long. All models but the base SE come with an EasyFold second-row seat back release, which also easily creates a flat load floor and is the first in its class, according to Ford.
The Edge offers a variety of storage spaces and comes with a standard cargo net (usually just an option on other SUVs). The standard center flexible front console can be configured 12 different ways to hold everything from cell phones to laptops. A rear cargo management system is optional for the base model and standard on the others. A power liftgate is part of the Driver Entry Package, which also comes with remote start and is available on Sport and Limited models only.
* "Cabin storage is very good, highlighted by a large glovebox and cavernous center console that can hold a notebook computer." -- Consumer Guide
* "The cargo bay is huge and the big tailgate hinges up and out of the way to make loading easy." -- About.com
* "Folding down the second row opens up a not-so-flat cargo floor and a max capacity of 69 cubes. That's more than a Nissan Murano can manage, but less than the Toyota RAV4 and considerably less than the Ford Flex." -- Edmunds
* "Cargo carrying is an area where the Edge excels. The tailgate lifts to reveal a wide opening. With the rear seats in place there's a reasonable amount of cargo room, but pressing a button automatically reclines the rear seats to open up 69.0 cubic feet of storage space on a nearly flat floor." -- New Car Test Drive
